THE grieving father of a teenager whose tragic death touched the hearts of people in Warwickshire has set up a charitable trust in his memory.

The body of 17-year-old Jack Fisher, who was also known as Jack Macleod, was found in the River Leam in January this year, a month after he went missing after a night out.

The disappearance of the Warwickshire College student sparked a massive manhunt and media appeal with his distraught parents making a desperate plea for information.

A bridge over the river in Leamington was covered with flowers in tribute to Jack shortly after his death.

As he tries to come to terms with his son's death, Jack's natural father, Kevin, has launched the Jack Fisher Memorial Fund in his memory, with the help of Jack's uncle, Paul Fisher.

The new fund will kick off with a charity golf day at The Warwickshire, near Leek Wootton on Father's Day, Sunday June 18, followed by an auction of donated items from sportsmen and local businesses.

Kevin, a 46-year-old operating department practitioner at Warwick Hospital, said: "The occasional round of golf was something we would do together and I am sure he would have thought this was brilliant."

Already Mr Fisher has extended the number of places from 100 to 128, owing to the huge amount of interest the event has generated and he believes organising the event has helped him get through his darkest days.

He added: "It occupies me and gives me something else to think about rather than sitting around moping.

"It has been difficult to move on because they didn't find Jack for a month and it has been the subject of a police investigation.

"Every time you do move on, it seems something else comes up. Hopefully, we will get some closure at some point.

"Primarily, the day will be about having fun in Jack's honour and it is a way for me to remember him every year.

"The Warwickshire Golf Club have been brilliant and if we can make a few bob for local children on the way then all the better."

If anyone can help with donations of items for the auction, or has any ideas of Leamington or Warwick-based children's charities that could benefit from a donation by the fund, they can contact kevingfisher@msn.com.